The school year is coming to an end, which means that many young professionals are sending their qualifications out into cyberspace in hopes of landing summer gigs. With summer internships quickly approaching, now is the time to get your resume sent out to companies so you can set yourself up with an outstanding opportunity. Here are a few tips to help you land a social media internship that’ll bolster your skills and build out your resume:
Keep in mind that if you’re applying for social media internships, companies will be looking at your social media accounts, too. They want to see who you are, how you act, and what you can bring to the table. This means you need to be presenting yourself in a positive light, both personally and professionally.
To avoid losing out on your dream internship, clean up your social media accounts and use them to stand out. Remove Facebook posts or Instagram photos you wouldn’t want an employer to see and get rid of those tweets where you talked about the bad days you were having at work. Use a little common sense and make sure your personal brand reflects the kind of person companies will want to hire to represent them.
Networking is one of the best ways to land any job – including a summer internship. Use this time to peruse LinkedIn and build out your profile so that you can approach others in the social media field with a professional presence. Consider attending industry-related events such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Social Media Club, and Business Marketing Association so you can get to know the movers and shakers in your area. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and strike up conversations with people!
With this in mind, you should also make sure your resume and cover letter are ready to be handed out at a moment’s notice. Sure, your cover letters should be tailored to each company and role, but it’s helpful to have a template to work from. When you attend industry events, keep a few copies of your resume with you so that you can hand them out if you connect with people who seem interested in you.
You’ll never get an internship if you don’t put the time and effort into the application process. But then what? Once you’ve landed an interview, always dress to impress. It doesn’t matter what the company’s dress code is or if you’re interviewing on Zoom; your goal is to land that job. That means you must put your best foot forward and wear the clothes any hiring manager would expect of his or her candidates.Â
Afterward, don’t forget to follow up with thank you notes. This can be a make-or-break step if you’re in close runnings with another candidate. If you don’t land an interview right away, give the company a call a week or so after applying to make sure they received your application.
The most important thing you can do during the search for an internship is to go easy on yourself – we’re all human! No one likes rejection, but it’s important to know that you won’t always get every job that comes down the path.Â
Once you land a position, remember that you’re new. You might even make a mistake here and there. The good news? You’re an intern, and your whole purpose in this role is to learn. The important thing is to identify the problems that occur when you make mistakes and learn from them. As long as you’re willing to fix the errors you make along the way, you’ll build a great network and valuable skills that will stay with you throughout your career.
Want to learn more about the social media or digital marketing world? Contact Zero Gravity Marketing today!